Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, Volume 3 (of 3) by James Dennistoun

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Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, Volume 3 (of 3) by James Dennistoun

(11 User reviews) 5778

By Jacob Brown Posted on Dec 22, 2025

In Category - Hard Sci-Fi

Authors: Dennistoun, James, 1803-1855 Published By : Dennistoun, James, 1803-1855

Book Language: English

Okay, hear me out. You know those dusty, forgotten history books that seem like a chore? This one is the opposite. James Dennistoun's final volume on the Dukes of Urbino isn't just a list of dates and battles. It's about the slow, painful end of a Renaissance dream. We watch as this incredible dynasty—patrons of art, masters of war—starts to crack. The world is changing, and power is shifting away from these small, brilliant courts. It's less about a sudden fall and more about a quiet fading, which somehow makes it even more gripping. If you've ever wondered what happens after the golden age ends, this book has the surprisingly human answer.

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Dresden Gallery, after which the Venus of Urbino was painted. (Photo Anderson) 394 Portrait of his wife, by Lucas Cranach. From the picture in the Roscoe Collection, Liverpool. Possibly modelled on the Venus of Urbino 396 Maiolica. A plate of Urbino ware of about 1540 in the British Museum 404 Maiolica. A plate of Castel Durante ware of about 1524 in the British Museum. "The divine and beautiful Lucia" 408 Maiolica. A plate of Urbino ware about 1535 in the British Museum. (The arms are Cardinal Pucci's) 412 Maiolica. Plate of Castel Durante ware about 1540, with a portrait medallion within a border of oak leaves. This pattern was called "Cerquata" or "al Urbinata," the oak being the badge of the Rovere house. In the British Museum 416 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE A.D. PAGE CHAPTER XXXIX 1527. Causes leading to the sack of Rome 3 " The Pontiff's fatal confidence 4 " Defenceless state of his capital 5 " Apr. His tardy alarm, and inadequate exertions 5 " " Demoralisation of the city 6 " " Warnings of impending woe 6 " May. Foolhardiness of Renzo da Ceri 8 " " Authorities for the sack 8 " " Panic in the city 8 " " Estimate of the respective forces 9 " " 5. Arrival of Bourbon's army 10 " " 6. The assault 10 " " The localities examined and compared 11 " " Death of Bourbon 12 " " Rome lost by a panic 13 " " The Pope and Cardinals gain the castle of S. Angelo 13 " " The imperialists overrun the entire city 14 " " It is ferociously sacked during three days 14 " " The Prince of Orange succeeds Bourbon 15 " " Savage atrocities and sacrilege of the army 15 " " Several cardinals outraged 16 " " Pillage of shops and palaces 17 " " Ransom extorted by the soldiery 18 " " Dilatory proceedings of the confederates 18 " " 3. The Duke of Urbino leaves Florence 19 " " Unworthy motives imputed to him 19 " " 17. Abortive attempt to rescue the Pope 20 " " 20. He advances to Isola di Farnese 21 " " Distracted counsels in his camp 21 " " He resolves upon inaction 22 " " His memorial defending this 22 " " The Pontiff vainly appeals to Lannoy 23 " Jun. 5. He accepts a humbling capitulation 23 " " Sale of cardinals' hats 24 " " The capitulation rejected 24 " Aug. Pestilence and famine in Rome 25 " " Death of Lannoy 25 " Oct. New and more severe terms of capitulation 25 " Dec. 8. The Pope escapes in disguise to Orvieto 26 Castiglione's negotiations at Madrid from 1524 to 1528 26 " Jul. 25. Conduct of Charles V. on hearing of sack 29 " The Pope's dissatisfaction and Castiglione's defence 29 " Nov. 22. The Emperor's hollow professions 31 " " Fatal consequences of the sack 32 CHAPTER XL " Jun. 1. The confederates retire to Monterosi 34 " Aug. Mischievous policy of Francesco Maria 34 " Dec. His interview with the Pope 34 " Jul. Distrust of the Venetians 35 1528. Removed by a visit from the Duke 35 " His violent proceedings 36 " He is presented with a palace at Venice 37 1527. Jun. New League against Charles V. 37 " Jul. A French army enters Italy 37 " Close of this miserable year 37 1528. Feb. 16. The imperialists evacuate Rome 38 " " Overtaken by signal vengeance 39 " " 10. Lautrec enters the Abruzzi...

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James Dennistoun wraps up his massive three-part biography of the della Rovere family, who ruled the Italian duchy of Urbino during the Renaissance's peak and its decline. This volume picks up as the dynasty's glory starts to wane. We follow the later dukes as they navigate a world where political giants like Spain and France are calling the shots, and the independent spirit of places like Urbino is under threat.

The Story

This isn't a story with a single villain or a big, dramatic battle at the end. Instead, Dennistoun shows us a gradual process. We see dukes struggling to maintain their independence, making tough alliances, and watching their influence shrink. The real drama is in the tension between trying to uphold a legacy of culture and military might while the ground is literally shifting under their feet. The final act sees the duchy absorbed into the Papal States, ending centuries of independent rule not with a bang, but a bureaucratic whimper.

Why You Should Read It

What got me was the humanity. Dennistoun, writing in the 1800s, clearly admired these figures, but he doesn't shy away from their flaws and their impossible situation. You feel the weight of history pressing down on them. It's fascinating to see the Renaissance not as a period that just 'ended,' but as something that faded region by region, family by family. The details about art, architecture, and daily life that made the first volumes so vibrant are still here, but now they're tinged with a sense of things slipping away.

Final Verdict

Perfect for history buffs who are tired of just reading about kings and emperors winning. This is for the reader interested in the quieter, often sadder stories of what happens to the 'little guys' of history—even if those little guys were dukes in fabulous palaces. It’s a thoughtful, detailed, and surprisingly poignant end to a monumental work. You'll need the patience for old-school biography, but the payoff is a deep understanding of an era's closing chapter.

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